4 Types Of Problems

And a handy matrix to help you approach them

Photo by Wim van 't Einde on Unsplash

Sometimes, we use the wrong approach to solving problems. It’s easy to mistake certain types of problems for others, which can lead to confusing failures.

Here’s a nifty little cheat chart to help provide a framework for thinking about problems and identifying appropriate approaches.

Simple

This is the kind of problem that can be solved with process and repetition. Have you ever seen someone on a conveyor belt line doing some kind of repetitive task? That’s a simple problem. We know what’s coming down the belt, we know how much time it takes to do our part, we even know where things are going next. It’s straightforward and can be solved with process pretty quickly.

Complicated

This is the kind of problem where we at least know the unknowns. You can plan. You might have to solve for “x” but at least you have a tool like algebra to get you there. It’s harder, but with critical thinking or tools, you can get there. Sometimes, all you need is time. Your sales team might not know what sales look like for the quarter, but we can guess based on past experience and we’ll find out once the quarter is over. There are some unknowns but they’re not that scary.

Problem Type Matrix based on the Cynefin Framework

Complex

This is one of those fun problems where we don’t know what we know. We’re conscious of our incompetence. This can be a problem that someone else is solving effectively, so we have some idea that it can be solved and that there are, in fact, solutions out there—but we have no expertise or experience solving them. This is a good time to hire a subject matter expert or consult the town guru.

Chaotic

This is exactly what you think. We don’t know what we don’t know. There’s no system, there’s no subject matter expert, there’s no solution because no one’s ever really seen this problem before. The environment is confusing and you might not be able to tell if your attempts to solve the problem are working. This is painful because you’re forced into a state of reaction instead of responsiveness. You’re winging it because there’s no way to plan.

More resources

In case you want to do more reading on this, or think I’m nuts and want to verify this idea, here are some more resources.

This is based on the Cynefin Framework.

I also found Michael Bykovski’s great article on Medium that dives into some good examples.

I hope this helps you frame more problems and validate your approach.

Happy Thursday.